HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE FOCUSED AS A MANAGER - One of the more difficult challenges every leader is faced with today is how to keep people focused on the things that are important to the business. Factors such as busyness, habits and ritual patterns of behaviour, time compression, and lacking motivation to change; all contribute to the problem that we as leaders must address. This podcast is a discussion about the strategies that George found effective in keeping the people around him and who work for him focused on the important things. MADE POSSIBLE BY .. Remember to go and visit the 9 Skills Factory. This is George’s education platform for professionals and career driven folk, this is the business that makes this podcast possible - https://www.9skillsfactory.com

SHEENA LIVESEY - Sheena has worked with George for around 10 years and has played a hugely important role in the achievements of George and his company. She is now transitioning into a new career - that of nursing. Currently in her third year of nurse training she is now spending more and more time doing placements in hospitals and various wards and building her hands on experience. This conversation was prompted by George’s desire to understand what it’s like to work in the various wards of hospitals and how the pressures of the COVID pandemic are affecting the frontline works in the hospital system - the nursing staff. A big shoutout to all of the nurses in Australia and the world, the respect we have for what you do is enormous. MADE POSSIBLE BY .. Remember to visit George’s 9 Skills Factory education platform for professionals and career driven folks, this is the business that makes this podcast possible - https://www.9skillsfactory.com

ANDREW READ - Andrew Read is a professional Health and Fitness trainer and coach. As he says, he “helps 40yr old men regain their youth and athleticism.” He is also author of Run Strong, Taming the Beast, and anything else that represents smart training for what he refers to as the “Ageing Athlete”. George had the chance to chat with Andrew and they talked obviously about health and fitness, about mindset as it affects people’s health and fitness, and the impacts of COVID19. What comes across in this conversation is Andrew’s genuine care for people and their health, his no-bullshit approach for helping people achieve what they desire, and his commitment to making a difference and doing his bit to fix a problem that only seems to be getting worse. If you are struggling with weight and are being honest to yourself about the problems this will create for you, you can also do your bit by checking out Andrew’s 28-day challenge. Yep, this was a long one, the chat went for some 2-hours and George did not get through all of the topics he wanted to talk to Andrew about, so there will be more conversations for sure. MORE INFORMATION For more information about Andrew Read and his 28-day Challenge, visit his Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/athleticadventurer/ MADE POSSIBLE BY .. Remember to visit George’s 9 Skills Factory professionals education platform which is the business that makes this podcast possible - https://www.9skillsfactory.com 

CASSANDRA ALEXANDER RN - Cassandra (aka Cassie) Alexander is a nurse. She spent ten years of her career working in a burns ward of a US hospital, loving her job and the tough but important role of caring for burns victims. Then in 2020 we were all struck by the COVID19 pandemic.  So Cassie took her skills working in what are referred to as isolation wards, to become a COVID ward nurse. That’s when things changed. So in 2021 she wrote about her experience in a book titled YEAR OF THE NURSE. That book is a 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Memoir in the words of someone who knows what it is like behind the closed doors of the COVID ward. In this episode, George chatted with Cassie about her experiences in the ward, dealing with the hospitalised victims of COVID19, misunderstandings out there about masks and vaccinations, nurses coping with stress and PTSD. It is a super interesting story that will surely awaken you and give you a much greater appreciation of the tough role nurses have to perform, and maybe .. just maybe help you to not become a COVID19 hospitalisation statistic yourself. Remember, if you are experiencing signs and symptoms of PTSD, remember to speak up and get help. MORE INFORMATION More information about Cassie and all of her books can be found on the Amazon website here - https://www.amazon.com/Cassie-Alexander/e/B007A2R4P0 MADE POSSIBLE BY .. Remember to visit George’s 9 Skills Factory professionals education platform which is the business that makes this podcast possible.

KEITH BANKS - This is a follow up conversation with Keith Banks, and a reference to his second successful book - Gun To The Head. George talked with Keith about his experience in tactical operations, touched on Operation Flashdance, and delved into his experience dealing with the aftermath and years of PTSD. Thankfully Keith came through the ordeal and now his contribution to mental health and well-being is felt widely because of his writings. He has taken all of his experiences and learnings and presented them in such a way that we can all take something positive away, even if our circumstances are different. If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of PTSD, remember to speak up and get help. And also listen to the first conversation with Keith Banks in Episode 64 of this podcast. MORE INFORMATION More information about Keith Banks and where to get his books can be found on his website - https://keithbanks.com.au MADE POSSIBLE BY .. Remember to visit George’s 9 Skills Factory professionals education platform which is the business that makes this podcast possible.

In an earlier episode (#62) Don McKay spoke about his experience dealing with and surviving cancer. And one of the things that came out of that conversation for George was the obvious 'resilience' he practiced and displayed throughout that time. What’s interesting is that George worked with Don back in the 1990s and was privy to how this resilience was a part of Don’s character way back then. So he invited Don to talk more about the topic, and expand on his work in teaching resilience to others through his activities as a part of the My Evolution business. There are many lessons for all of us in this podcast about life and how we approach it. More information about Don McKay and his work with resilience can be found on his website - https://www.myevolution.com.au Please take a moment to visit our sponsor - George’s 9 Skills Factory Professionals Education Platform

It takes a lot of courage and tenacity to go public with your own content. To put yourself out there on social media, YouTube, the public speaking stage, in the coaching arena; all expose you to not only positivity, but also negativity. And it is this fear of the negative aspects of the public domain that often prevents very talented people from actually sharing what they know and can do that adds value to us all. In this episode, George gives you five mindset lessons that will help you deal with that and make sure you step forward and get your ideas and content out there where we can all benefit.  And remember, go and visit our sponsor page, this platform is what makes this podcast possible: George’s 9 Skills Factory Professionals Education Platform

Public speaking is a skill for sure. However many people approach the development of their capability with public speaking with a purely technical mindset. They erroneously think that by learning the techniques of public speaking and presentation delivery, mastery follows. Truth is a good public speaker knows they need to BE something in order to DO public speaking well. This podcast is about what you need to BE first if you do want to be a public speaking master. This podcast is brought to you by: Soarent Vision Pty Ltd, and George’s 9 Skills Factory professionals education platform.

George has observed the career of Kate Sommerville over the course of many years since first meeting her in the late 1990s. Given her drive, progress and level of career success in what many would call a challenging industry, George took the opportunity to sit with Kate and learn what he could about her approach to work, career, leadership and life in general. At the time of this recording, Kate is the General Manager Legacy Assets for the mining giant BHP. Her responsibility includes 24 closed mines across USA and Canada, a team of 200 including contractors, and a coverage that also includes 108 dams in 24 different facilities. Kate, who has an engineering degree, an MBA, a First Class Mine Managers Certificate and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. FAusIMMCP, is a fantastic role model for anyone with strong career aspirations, especially young women. And if that’s not enough, Kate also enjoys (yes she actually used the word “enjoy”) competing in Ironman triathlons and 100+ kilometre runs! This podcast is brought to you by: Soarent Vision Pty Ltd, and George’s 9 Skills Factory professionals education platform

Keith Banks, author of the best selling book titled ‘Drugs, Guns and Lies’, sat with George and discussed his life as an undercover cop during the most notoriously corrupt period in Queensland's history that ended with the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Keith describes what it was like to live life as an undercover agent, building relationships with people he would have to ultimately betray, the transition back to what we might call a normal life, the impact of this on his life and mental well being, and finally dealing with PTSD. More information about Keith Banks and where to get his books can be found on his website - keithbanks.com.au This podcast is brought to you by: Soarent Vision Pty Ltd, and George’s 9 Skills Factory professionals education platform.